His sister stood with her hands on her hips as ifhewere being unreasonable. She was going to spend millennia in Purgatory. “I’m hardly causing a scandal! No one is watching—and even if they were, they know I’m your sister! Youdowant to hear my news?”
“Yes.” Joseph removed his violet stole and folded it atop his breviary on the seat. He allowed Hélène to pull him from the confessional.
“Liam has an apprenticeship!” his sister shouted to the entire empty cathedral. “We’ll be married before we’re thirty!”
Joseph frowned. “He said it would take himyearsto afford an apprenticeship.”
“Liam doesn’t have to pay for it anymore—the lawyer who’s training him will soon be his brother-in-law!”
How could Liam have a future brother-in-law other than Joseph? Unless?—
“Tessa is engaged now too! And you’ll never believe who proposed to her!”
Joseph gripped the back of a pew. “Who?”
“EdwardStratford! His father owns a plantation on the Ashley!” Hélène exulted at her usual speed, her hands excited fists under her chin. “Edward is the youngest of three sons—but still: a Stratford! It’s like the prince and Cinderella! Now Mama and Grandmama cannot possibly object to Liam and me! Can you believe we’ll be related to the Stratfords?”
In truth, Joseph had barely heard of them. “This Edward Stratford will not interfere with Miss Conley’s religion? He’ll allow their children to be Catholic?”
“Not only that, Joseph—Mr. Stratford agreed to convert! Tessa said he’ll call on you.”
Hélène soon flitted homewards. Joseph retreated into the confessional and shut the door. He was glad of the bench and the concealment.His legs felt as if he’d just raced up the Spanish Steps; they’d threatened to buckle beneath him. His heart felt… This was envy. He was in the wrong seat.
Joseph should be rejoicing.Miss Conley had turned a lost soul toward the true Church. If they could winoneStratford, might not others follow? At the very least, there would be Catholic Stratfords in the next generation. Soon Miss Conley would sing lullabies to her own children. She would bear them in comfort, and they would want for nothing.
Joseph should be falling on his knees in thanksgiving. Most men of Mr. Stratford’s class would not hesitate to ruin a young woman like Miss Conley for their own momentary pleasure. He could have seduced her with a promise of marriage and abandoned her. But to his credit, Mr. Stratford recognized Miss Conley for the jewel she was, and he wanted her on his arm for a lifetime.
The young man was certainly besotted. When he spoke about his intended, Mr. Stratford’s countenance matched Liam’s when he spoke of Hélène: it was breathless and reverent. Mr. Stratford was earnest, humble, and open-hearted. Not only had he secured Liam an apprenticeship with his eldest brother, he had saved the Conleys from their appalling lodgings. He rented them a suite of rooms, modest but completely respectable, which Liam could purchase from him over time, where Hélène could live one day. Miss Conley had been able to give up her sewing. Now, other women labored over her trousseau.
Yet for all his qualities, all his wealth, Joseph thought Mr. Stratford utterly unworthy of Miss Conley. He was simply…dull. It was like yoking a unicorn to an ass. An ass could not help being an ass, but it was still an ass. What did they talk about? Mr. Stratford was eager to discuss crop yields, but his interest did not extend to ornamentals. He had no appreciation for poetry or even music, though he happily took Miss Conley to plays and concerts.
What mancouldbe worthy of such a woman?Joseph chastised himself. He was being unfair. He knew nothing about love, and herarely saw the couple together. Even then, Miss Conley practiced modesty and hid her affections in public.
Mostly Joseph met with Mr. Stratford alone in order to prepare him for his Confirmation. The Stratfords were Episcopalian, at least officially. Like the rest of his family, Mr. Stratford viewed religion as something to do on Sundays and ignore the rest of the week.
When Joseph inquired why he wished to convert, the young man answered: “Because it will please my Tessie.” Mr. Stratford was only two years Joseph’s junior, but sometimes he seemed like a little boy—or perhaps a puppy wagging its tail, begging for attention.
“It isn’t as if much will change, right?” he asked Joseph with ignorant cheerfulness. “I mean, Episcopal services, Catholic services—they have more commonalities than they do differences.”
“Transubstantiation is not a small matter,” Joseph informed him as calmly as he could.
“Well, yes, but there’s really only that and the Latin—which I think sounds much grander than English; I can understand why you kept it. And of course the celibacy of Catholic Priests, which I also approve. I mean, I wouldn’t want to do it myself! But that’s the point, isn’t it? What I’m saying is: I admire you, Father. That kind of sacrifice sets you apart, doesn’t it? It makes you special.”
Mr. Stratford insistedon making his first general Confession to Joseph. The young man admitted to self-abuse and impure thoughts, especially about Miss Conley. But Mr. Stratford confessed no visits to prostitutes or harassment of slaves. He understood the wages of sin. Joseph was confident that he would be a faithful husband.
After Joseph granted Mr. Stratford Absolution, they walked out to the Biblical garden, where they found Miss Conley reading. For a moment, Joseph imagined that her gaze leapt to him first, and that her smile wavered when she looked to Mr. Stratford. Ridiculous. Joseph lowered his eyes and noticed a weed threatening hisPassiflora. He knelt to remove it.
Mr. Stratford did not yet cross the garden to his intended.Instead, he confided to Joseph in a low voice: “Sometimes I envy her. I know Tessie doesn’t struggle the way I do.” He sighed. “Itry to read or to concentrate my attention on anything else, and all I can think about is our wedding night. Virtue is so much easier for women. They’re born pure and that’s how they remain—at least if they’re ladies.”
No one was born pure; they were all sinners, male and female alike. Joseph’s experience as a confessor had taught him that even ladies felt lust. But there in the presence of Miss Conley, Joseph did not correct her intended. The young man would learn soon enough.
Another day,Mr. Stratford asked: “Have you heard of this book by Maria Monk?Awful Disclosures?”
“Unfortunately.” It was the latest anti-Catholic invective, the most ludicrous—and most popular—so far. It was a gothic novel masquerading as the autobiography of a pregnant nun who had escaped a convent to save her child’s life.
Mr. Stratford squinted at him. “Is any of that true, Father?”
“Are you seriously asking me if I force myself on nuns? If I strangle our newborn children and then throw them into a pit?”
